Features for Implants with a Reduced Volumetric Density of Surface Roughness

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein includes implant features that can be used, in some embodiments, on devices with a volumetric density of less than about 100 percent and devices with a surface roughness of some value. The implant features include one or more protrusions mounted on the forward edge of an implant that can ease the distraction of tissue during implantation and reduce the occurrence of damage during a manufacturing process. In some embodiments, the protrusions have gaps in a non-axial direction with respect to the implant to allow axial compression with respect to the protrusions. In some embodiments, the protrusions have a circumferential gap between them and a body of a device to reduce any impact on the device's elastic modulus.

1 . A medical implant, comprising:
 a body with a first volumetric density;   wherein the medical implant has with a front, back, top, bottom, right side and left side;   a first protrusion fixed towards the front of the medical implant;   wherein the first protrusion has a second volumetric density;   wherein the second volumetric density is greater than the first volumetric density; and   wherein the first protrusion has at least one edge with an angle offset from a vertical plane tangent to the first protrusion.   
     
     
         2 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a second protrusion with a third volumetric density; wherein the second protrusion has at least one edge with an angle offset from a vertical plane tangent to the second protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The medical implant of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion is fixed to the body at a first anchor point and wherein the second protrusion is fixed to the body at a second anchor point. 
     
     
         4 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a first endplate spaced apart from a second endplate, the first end plate being mechanically connected to the second endplate substantially only via the body; wherein the first protrusion is fixed to one of the first endplate or the second endplate. 
     
     
         5 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a first endplate spaced apart from a second endplate, the first end plate being mechanically connected to the second endplate substantially only via the body; wherein the first protrusion is fixed to one of the first endplate or the second endplate only via at least one elongate extension. 
     
     
         6 . The medical implant of  claim 5 , further comprising a second protrusion with a third volumetric density; wherein the second protrusion has at least one edge with an angle offset from a vertical plane tangent to the second protrusion; wherein the second protrusion is fixed to one of the first endplate or the second endplate only via at least one elongate extension. 
     
     
         7 . The medical implant of  claim 6 , wherein the first protrusion is elongate in one direction; and wherein the second protrusion is elongate in one direction. 
     
     
         8 . The medical implant of  claim 7 , wherein the first protrusion is spaced apart from the body; and wherein the second protrusion is spaced apart from the body. 
     
     
         9 . The medical implant of  claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion is elongate in one direction; wherein the second protrusion is elongate in one direction; wherein the first protrusion is fixed along an elongate surface to the body; and wherein the second protrusion is fixed along an elongate surface to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion has a leading edge with a fourth volumetric density; and wherein the fourth volumetric density is greater than the second volumetric density. 
     
     
         11 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is configured to be additively manufactured in a front to back build orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first volumetric density is less than 100 percent and wherein the second volumetric density is greater than the first volumetric density. 
     
     
         13 . The medical implant of  claim 10 , wherein the first volumetric density is less than 100 percent and wherein the fourth volumetric density is greater than the first volumetric density. 
     
     
         14 . The medical implant of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a body roughness; wherein the first protrusion has a leading edge roughness; and wherein the body roughness is greater than the leading edge roughness. 
     
     
         15 . A medical implant, comprising:
 a body with a body roughness;   wherein the medical implant has with a front, back, top, bottom, right side and left side;   a first protrusion, with a first protrusion roughness, fixed towards the front of the medical implant;   wherein the body roughness is greater than the first protrusion roughness; and   wherein the first protrusion has at least one edge with an angle offset from a vertical plane tangent to the first protrusion.   
     
     
         16 . The medical implant of  claim 15 , further comprising a second protrusion with a second protrusion roughness; wherein the second protrusion has at least one edge with an angle offset from a vertical plane tangent to the second protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The medical implant of  claim 16 , wherein the first protrusion is fixed to the body at a first anchor point and wherein the second protrusion is fixed to the body at a second anchor point. 
     
     
         18 . The medical implant of  claim 15 , further comprising a first endplate spaced apart from a second endplate, the first end plate being mechanically connected to the second endplate substantially only via the body; wherein the first protrusion is fixed to one of the first endplate or the second endplate. 
     
     
         19 . The medical implant of  claim 15 , further comprising a first endplate spaced apart from a second endplate, the first end plate being mechanically connected to the second endplate substantially only via the body; wherein the first protrusion is fixed to one of the first endplate or the second endplate only via at least one elongate extension. 
     
     
         20 . The medical implant of  claim 19 , further comprising a second protrusion with a second protrusion roughness; wherein the second protrusion has at least one edge with an angle offset from a vertical plane tangent to the second protrusion; and wherein the second protrusion is fixed to one of the first endplate or the second endplate only via at least one elongate extension. 
     
     
         21 . The medical implant of  claim 20 , wherein the first protrusion is elongate in one direction; and wherein the second protrusion is elongate in one direction. 
     
     
         22 . The medical implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first protrusion is spaced apart from the body; and wherein the second protrusion is spaced apart from the body. 
     
     
         23 . The medical implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first protrusion is fixed along an elongate surface to the body and wherein the second protrusion is fixed along an elongate surface to the body. 
     
     
         24 . The medical implant of  claim 15 , wherein the implant is configured to be additively manufactured in a front to back build orientation. 
     
     
         25 . The medical implant of  claim 16 , wherein the body roughness is greater than the second protrusion roughness. 
     
     
         26 . The medical implant of  claim 16  wherein the first protrusion roughness is about the same as the second protrusion roughness. 
     
     
         27 . The medical implant of  claim 15 , wherein the body has a first volumetric density; wherein the first protrusion has a second volumetric density; and wherein the second volumetric density is greater than the first volumetric density. 
     
     
         28 . The medical implant of  claim 21 , wherein the first protrusion has a front and a back; wherein the back of the first protrusion is oriented towards the front of the body; and wherein the front of the first protrusion comprises a circular sector when viewed from above. 
     
     
         29 . The medical implant of  claim 28 , wherein the circular sector has a sector angle, S, of between and including 1 degree to 225 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The medical implant of  claim 28 , wherein the circular sector has a sector angle, S, of between and including 25 degrees and 180 degrees. 
     
     
         31 . The medical implant of  claim 28 , wherein the circular sector has a circular sector diameter, D, of between and including 0.15 times to 0.9 times a width of the medical implant. 
     
     
         32 . The medical implant of  claim 28 , wherein a surface of the circular sector has a volumetric density that is greater than the remainder of the first protrusion. 
     
     
         33 . The medical implant of  claim 15 , wherein the first protrusion roughness is between 0 percent and 80 percent of the body roughness. 
     
     
         34 . The medical implant of  claim 17 , wherein the first anchor point is spaced apart from the second anchor point. 
     
     
         35 . The medical implant of  claim 17 , wherein the first protrusion is spaced apart from the second protrusion.